‘WWE NXT’ Review (Dec 12th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of NXT, right here on Nerdly. Let’s get straight into it and see what went down in this episode…
Match #1: Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen, & Fallon Henley def. The Meta-Four
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After some harsh words backstage at NXT Deadline, Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen, and Fallon Henley took down the Meta-Four in a Six-Person Mixed Tag Team Match. NXT Heritage Cup Champion Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, and Lash Legend wasted no time in getting the match started as they jumped their opponents, but Briggs, Jensen, and Henley rallied. Out of nowhere, Tiffany Stratton appeared and attacked Henley, but Briggs stepped up in the ensuing chaos and hit a massive lariat on Dar, securing the win for his team.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Men’s Breakout Tournament – Oba Femi def. Myles Borne
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The first round of the NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament began and Oba Femi became the first Superstar to punch their ticket to the second round after a dominant performance against Myles Borne. Borne looked strong early on and was showcasing what he’s learned from Drew Gulak, but the power of Femi was on full display as a devastating power bomb punched his ticket to the semi-finals.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: NXT North American Championship – Dragon Lee def. Tyler Bate
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Big Strong Boi stepped up and answered Dragon Lee’s open challenge for the NXT North American Championship, but in the end, the champion retained in a thrilling matchup. Tyler Bate was more than game, using his signature to not only catch the champion off guard, but even nearly put him away. However, Bate went for his patented clothesline one too many times as Dragon Lee countered it into Operation Dragon, giving him the win and prompting a standing ovation from the NXT Universe.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Eddy Thorpe def. Dijak (DQ)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The match between Dijak and Eddy Thorpe was hard fought and more than personal as Dijak became so heated that he began beating Thorpe with the broken ring ropes, prompting a group of officials to have to pull him off of his injured opponent.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #5: Men’s Breakout Tournament – Riley Osborne def. Keanu Carver
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Keanu Carver looked destined to advance in the first round of the Men’s Breakout Tournament, but the will of Riley Osborne was on full display as he found a way to overcome his hulking opponent. Osborne caught Carver with a kick to the face just moments after a massive pounce by Carver, and the kick allowed the highflyer to hit a scintillating shooting star press to pick up the huge victory.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Cora Jade & Blair Davenport def. Lyra Valkyria & Nikkita Lyons
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The team of Cora Jade and the 2023 Women’s Iron Survivor Blair Davenport took down NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria and the returning Nikkita Lyons. Valkyria was in full control, but Tatum Paxley appeared and distracted her, causing her to miss her top rope splash and allowing Jade and Davenport to capitalize, shocking the champion.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Well this was a rollercoaster of an episode. We started on the high of the opening match, with a great six-person match (yes, PERSON, not man); then things dipped with the first breakout tournament match which, and I get it’s a tournament for up-and-comers, felt a bit too ropey. Dragon Lee and Tyler Bate then took us to highs with this episode’s best match and something I’d LOVE to see run back in the future; Eddy Thorpe and Dijak’s match was only a smidge more than a squash match; and then the second breakout tournament improved on the first but still didn’t set the world alight. Cora Jade and Blair Davenport made for a great team, thankfully helping the main event end this week’s NXT on a high.
